Verlander brews up no-hitter
DETROIT – Justin Verlander stood at his locker Tuesday night, already soaked with some initial celebratory spray, a bottle of Dom Perignon in his hands. He fidgeted with the foil, untwisted the wire, then worked on the cork.
That marked the first time he had struggled – in any way whatsoever – on a night for the ages.
Verlander, the Detroit Tigers’ masterful young ace, on Tuesday became the fifth pitcher in franchise history to throw a no-hitter – the first since Jack Morris in 1984 – in a 4-0 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers before 33,555 fans at Comerica Park.
It was the first no-hitter by a Tiger at home since Virgil Trucks’ pair in 1952.
The final scene – a happy, jumping mob of players on the infield, after Magglio Ordonez squeezed the final out – was reminiscent of the Tigers’ last big celebration here, after Ordonez’s home run clinched the American League pennant in October.
There was no trophy this time, but the moment seemed just as electric.
“The most special moment of my life – being out there, having the fans support me,” Verlander said, before his voice trailed off. “Unbelievable.”
It may be difficult to envision a more dominant no-hitter this side of a perfect game.
Verlander, who pitched a no-hitter in middle school, started thinking about it by the fifth or sixth inning Tuesday night. By then, he was well on his way. He allowed only two balls out of the infield after the first inning. Left fielder Craig Monroe never touched a ball.
Verlander established a career high for strikeouts – nine, at that point – in the sixth inning and finished with 12.
He ensured that Comerica Park’s first no-hitter would end in the same overwhelming way it had started: He reached 101 mph on the stadium radar gun in the ninth inning.
“I saw it,” Verlander said.
The ninth began with a standing ovation as Verlander jogged purposefully toward the mound. The top of the order – Craig Counsell, Tony Graffanino and J.J. Hardy – was due up.
Verlander missed with his first pitch of the inning, but fired the next 10 for strikes. Counsell struck out on a curveball. Graffanino did the same. Hardy put up a fight and hit one solidly to right field.
Ordonez stepped back and kept retreating. But catcher Pudge Rodriguez had the best view and he knew the ballpark would hold it. He had run out to the mound and lifted Verlander into his arms by the time the ball settled in Ordonez’s glove.
“Awesome, man,” Rodriguez said. “It was like winning a World Series, to be honest with you.”
Curtis Granderson ran in from center field and threw his glove into the air.
Manager Jim Leyland and coaches waited beside the third-base line as the happy mob carried on. Leyland embraced Verlander, and the two shared a quiet moment.